Welcome! A blog, run by Jennifer Abell, Member of the Charles County Board of Education, involving topics and issues on education and children. Comments are not official communications of the Charles County School Board but are a personal effort to be more transparent. Both complimentary comments and constructive criticism are not only appreciated but encouraged.
Student participation is also encouraged and therefore the use of proper language and decorum is requested at all times.

Education Matters!

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SCHOOL RELATED INCIDENTS

Events listed below are reported to me by the general public and are NOT obtained through my position as a board of education member. Report an incident HERE or 301-659-4112, include school, date, and incident (no names)

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, April 19 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs .

The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.

Crawford - can we buy the busses and still contract them for everything else

Sotomeyer - yes we could and it would probably be cheaper

Kelly - ever adjust maintenance cost to prior year actuals. we are paying more than they are reporting. we should renegotiate this item in the contract. drivers work basically 180 days and get 10 days of leave

Hettel - maintenance cost is an average/typical cost.

Lukas - best interest to look at alternatives

Hill - group was suppose to lay out all the facts; not recommendations. we can provide that moving forward

Abell - I too was under the assumption a recommendation would be provided today. I would request further information be provided at a future meeting with a recommendation.

McGraw - October meeting on the 11th Yom Kipper and begins at sunset. Move to October 18th? Consensus was yes.

Future agenda items

Kelly - establishing school zone and redistricting for new school zone and look at all levels; HPV vaccination literature; pre and post test assessment scores for PARCC and schools consistently performing well and how to relay to other schools.

Lukas - discuss level of allocations per school and get back to commissioners

Art Gough - Spokesperson for Concerned Citizens of CCPS, met with transportation director and walked out because it should have been at a certain time and place. Read all bios and why is one in White Plains and in private school. 2 bus drivers died with no benefits. Privatization is bad for everyone.

Anita Kelly - bus drivers are intimated for speaking out, pay discrepancies and benefits, and rights. No study or analysis done since 1995. Make the drivers county employees. stop wasting revenue.

Pastor Freeman - wants to defer time to next speaker. Was told this isn't allowed

Keith McGirth - Certified drivers or to receive immediately $300. Worked for 6 years and still haven't received it. Offered it and now doesn't want it without interest and penalty. Everyone up for re-election and we can take away votes. Fellow driver out for surgery and no pay.

Kathy Lancaster - bus driver x 20 years. Fellow driver has been out for 6-8 weeks from surgery without pay. Only has $12,000 in retirement after 20 years. We want union. We want back up. Who's our boss? CCPS or contractor.

Monday, April 18, 2016

The Board of Education’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, April 19, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. and student and staff recognition starts at 4:15 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week.
Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website at www.ccboe.com. Select the live steaming image displayed in the center of the home page. The following is a tentative meeting agenda and is subject to change.

Executive session – 12 p.m.

Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, Westlake High School JROTCRecognition of winter sports state champion athletesSuperintendent’s updateReports of officers/boards/committees

Correspondence/Board Member updates

Education Association of Charles County update

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees update

Student Board Member update

Review of partnership between the school system and Charles County Sheriff’s Office

ABOUT ME

"I will serve as an educational advocate on behalf of our community in order to advance the educational vision for our schools, pursue its goals, and encourage progress as we work together in a diverse society."

My Pledge To You

"I will serve as an educational advocate on behalf of our community in order to advance the educational vision for our schools, pursue its goals, and encourage progress as we work together in a diverse society."

All posts prior to November 4, 2014 are by authority of Charles Alan Denman, Treasurer